Abstract
Vitamin A and β-carotene levels were examined in 76 patients with disturbed menstrual function, gonadotropic suppression, and cachexia due to organic causes and compared with those found in 10 control subjects and 8 patients with anorexia nervosa. Statistically significant elevations of the mean serum β-carotene (P<0.001), retinyl ester (P<0.001), retinol (P<0.01), and retinoic acid (P<0.02) levels were found in patients with anorexia nervosa but not in any of the other groups. Cachexia was associated with significant decreases in the mean serum β-carotene and retinyl ester levels and pregnancy with a decrease in the retinol levels. These findings suggest that the hypercarotenemia in anorexia nervosa may be due either to increased carotene and vitamin A intake or an acquired defect in the utilization or metabolism of vitamin A.
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